Athletic Program Award Continues Proud Tradition
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IRISH fall 2010 Athletic program 5 award continues proud tradition plus: John Nixon Julie Kherkher Kathy Bembas Gregory Simon Joe Mejaly Irish games Fr. Coolong Permit 615 Permit Royal Oak, MI Oak, Royal PAID Alumni notes Pontiac, MI 48340 MI Pontiac, U.S. Postage U.S. 1300 Giddings Road Giddings 1300 Non Profit Non Notre Dame Preparatory School Preparatory Dame Notre A WORD FROM YOUR ALUMNI DIRECTOR When I have the opportunity to interview alumni, I almost always social change in their world. Using their ask this question: “What are your hopes, dreams, and aspirations?” talents to the best of their ability is the mis- And, I always get a different answer. Often, they first look at me sion and they honestly listen to the “pull” quizzically, and then they always have some kind of answer. One which guides the decision making. In this 2005 alum said that after pursuing nutrition science in college she issue, you will be engrossed in alumni who wants to use her career “to improve the health and the lives of others are following the direction of their dreams. How inspiring! to help them create the best life possible.” Another grad, also from What are your hopes, dreams, and aspirations? As for me, they 2005, who is involved in Teach for America, said he wanted to play do not include lofty travel plans or being famous. I simply wish to just a small role in making his students’ lives better. I’m sure they continue developing youth to their highest potential. I dream of both will succeed in realizing their noble and lofty goals. having a family one day and being a gentle mother like mine. I may I like to ask this question because the answer is a window into not change the world, but I’ll change the world within my reach, their future. It’s also a link to another interview ten years down one encounter at a time. What are your hopes, dreams, and aspira- the road. Alumni from Notre Dame are “doers” and people on the tions? move. Alumni from Notre Dame are dreamers in the very fantastical Irish blessings, sense of the word; men and women who have learned from teachers, Marists, staff, and each other how to reach higher and never settle for complacency. At Notre Dame, our alumni are not only academic scholars, but Kelly A. (Cole) Patterson ‘99 (NDP) as you will witness in the next 22 pages, they are agents of positive Message from Frank Castronova ‘89 (NDHS) teachers. I met lots of great people—both men and women—who had the same great college-preparatory education, just in a different Dear Fellow Alumni, building. Different, but yet the same—one that is presided over by the Twenty-five years ago, my parents gave me one of the best gifts Marist Fathers and Brothers. That is the crucial link between my all- possible—they enrolled me in Notre Dame High School. At the time, I boys’ east-side school and the coeducational school on the east side of was nervous to start a new school, especially because I was leaving my Pontiac. friends in the East Detroit Public Schools. But I soon realized it was the Just like the Marists, the Notre Dame Alumni Association serves right place to be. I was challenged to be my as an important link. One between the past and the present. Between best by a stellar faculty that included Mr. the men of Notre Dame and the men and women of Notre Dame Prep. Kelly for English, Mr. Rice for AP U.S. History, And one that cherishes the legacies of gone-but-not-forgotten Pontiac Mr. Lynch for trigonometry, and Fr. Leon for Schools—St. Michael, St. Frederick, Pontiac Catholic, and Oakland Latin and philosophy. Expectations were Catholic. The NDAA board is made up of dedicated alumni and alumnae high. Classes were tough. But I got through who care deeply about the schools they attended and work hard to it manfully and took from the school lessons ensure our alumni have a positive connection. The board has been and life skills that have served me well to up and running for more than a year, but needs your help to keep the this day. momentum going. I had little or no involvement with my I urge you, my fellow alumni, to get involved, to venture into the alma mater for many years—much to my unfamiliar, just as I did twenty-five Augusts ago when I walked into regret. I saw some friends who, like me, 20254 Kelly Road for the first time. It will be different, but it will, I attended Wayne State University. I visited assure you, feel right. Come to an event, such as a Traveling Irish Dinner, the school occasionally and even worked in its St. Peter Chanel Library Homecoming, or Oktoberfest. Volunteer as a reunion planner. Become for a little while. I read the alumni newsletter with great interest, but a Class Captain by acting as a liaison between the Alumni Association never attended a reunion until my twentieth. That was the spark that and your classmates. Support the Annual Fund. Drop by ND Prep and say got me interested in getting re-engaged. hello to an old teacher. Join the Alumni Association board. These are But, in the meantime, my school closed and that made me very sad. just a few suggestions—among the myriad ways you can What was once, in my opinion, the greatest boys’ school on the east become involved. side, was a vacant, rotting, building. The halls I walked, the rooms I May God bless you and yours, learned in, the stands from which I watched football games, were frozen in time. The memories, however, became more powerful despite the sad Frank Castronova, ‘89 (NDHS) visuals. Vice President, Notre Dame Alumni Association I began to receive notices of gatherings from a different school— Notre Dame Prep—not my school, but the home of many of my 2 IRISH Fall 2010 Volume 1 Issue 5 IRISHIRISH is a magazine devoted to the alumni and friends of Notre Dame Preparatory, Notre Dame, Oakland Catholic, Pontiac Catholic, St. Michael and St. Frederick high schools. It is distributed free of charge. For more information, please see the alumni section of Notre Dame Prep’s web site at www.ndpma.org/alumni. CONTENTS 4 IRISH NEWS Get the latest about NDPMA and alumni. DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI RELATIONS Kelly (Cole) Patterson ‘99 (NDP) 7 ALUMNI IN ARMED FORCES EDITOR See where some of your fellow alumni have served in the military. Mike Kelly ‘73 (NDHS) 8 SIMPLY THE BEST ASSOCIATE EDITOR Read about how NDP’s athletic program was named best in the state. Monica Drake ‘06 (NDP) CONTRIBUTORS 1 2 BUSY 1978 ALUM HELPS GLOBAL MANUFACTURER GROW Catherine (Kathy) Bembas Joe Mejaly ‘78 (NDHS) keeps the world’s trucks supplied with components. Paul Carr Frank Castronova ‘89 (NDHS) FIFTEEN YEARS (AND COUNTING) AT PREP 1 3 Andy Guest ‘84 (NDHS) What do alumni from 1995 and 2010 have in common? James Strasz, s.m. ‘70 (NDHS) 1 5 PULLED TO PRIESTHOOD IRISH is published twice yearly in the Dennis Strach ‘06 (NDP) listens to a higher calling. spring and fall by the Notre Dame Alumni Association. 1 9 FOLLOWING SCHOOL MISSION TO CENTRAL AMERICA The magazine’s address is NDHS/NDP alum volunteers in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. 1300 Giddings Rd. Pontiac, MI 48340 2 1 A QUESTION OF VOCATIONS 248-373-2171 Fr. Jim Strasz ‘70 (NDHS) talks about how to build a culture of vocations [email protected] 22 LETTERS AND NOTES ndpma.org Alumni send their notes and letters. 2 3 CLASS REUNIONS Read about upcoming reunions. Contact us: Advancement Office - Alumni Director Advertise Notre Dame Preparatory School in IRISH? and Marist Academy 1300 Giddings Road Are you interested in Pontiac, MI 48340 advertising to 10,000 248-373-2171 - ext. 4 of your alumni friends? Fax 248-373-2175 Place an ad in an [email protected] upcoming IRISH. www.ndpma.org/alumni Contact Mike Kelly ‘73 (NDHS) for more information and pricing: [email protected]. ON THE COVER: P.J. Barron ‘10 (NDP) in semifinal lacrosse win against De La Salle. Photo: Mr. Mack Photography FALL 2010 3 IRISH NEWS Maloney in coaches’ hall of fame 2006. She was instrumental in helping the middle division earn Inter- On March 27, 2010, Ed Maloney ‘64 (NDHS) was inducted into national Baccalaureate World School status in August of last year. the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Jerry Potter retires after 12 years of service Fame in Ann Arbor. He has specialized in building football and Security guard Jerry spent the past 12 years lacrosse programs during a career that began at his alma mater, Notre of his life taking care of everyone on the Dame High School. He was the head football coach at ND along NDPMA campus. He guided traffic, kept the with Notre Dame Prep, Bishop Gallagher, Croswell-Lexington, road and circle driveway clear, and most of all, Pontiac Catholic, Riverview Gabriel Richard and Ann Arbor Gabriel he knew every student’s name. He truly was Richard. He was a teacher and assistant coach at Monroe Catholic invested in the Notre Dame community, not Central in the 1970s. Maloney played club lacrosse during his col- just as a security guard or traffic director, but as lege days at Dayton and started lacrosse programs at Bishop Foley, a friend and role model. Now Potter is retiring.